Response
Dear Mr Wagener

Thank you for your enquiry which I have forwarded to the Office of the
Registrar: [1][University of Otago request email]

---------------------------------------------
University of Otago
Web: www.otago.ac.nz
Ask Otago: [2]http://ask.otago.ac.nz
Facebook: [3]http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
Phone: +64 3 479 7000 or 0800 80 80 98
----------------------------------------------09
  19/07/2012 09.56 PM
Dear University of Otago,

I would like to request under the Official Information Act some
information relating to student grades by course subject code. I
woud like to request a statistical breakdown of the average grade
distribution by course subject code for the last three years. For
example: 7% of students got an A+ in POLS papers, 2% got an A+ in
LAWS, 5% got an A+ in PHIL, etc.

For courses which operate using a pass/fail grading mechanism, can
I please request a breakdown of this also, again by course subject
code.

If possible can this data please be sent in a machine readable
format, so ideally in a spreadsheet format, rather than inside a
PDF?

Although not required by the Official Information Act, I understand
it is often useful to know what the purpose of a request is. The
purpose of my request is to try to gain an understanding of how
"easy" or "hard" different subjects mark, as I have heard rumors
that different subjects are known to grade easier than other
subjects. I am also asking for the last three years so I can see
how this has changed over time.

Feel free to contact me if you want me to clarify my request.

Yours faithfully,

Samuel Wagener

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][OIA #390 email]

Is [5][email address] the wrong address for Official
Information Act requests to University of Otago? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[6]http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[8]Ask Otago.

[---001:001950:54616---]

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[University of Otago request email]
2. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/
3. http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
4. mailto:[OIA #390 email]
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact
7. http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
8. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/

Dear Mr Wagener

 

I refer to your request under the Official Information Act for information
relating to student grades by course subject code.  At this point we are
able to advise that the statistical data in the particular format you
describe is not readily available.  However the Director of Academic
Services, who has been absent overseas, has now returned and I will
discuss your request with him in an effort to establish what reports we
might have that could provide you with meaningful data.

 

I will contact you again as soon as I have that information.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Jan A Flood

Registrar

 

 

From: University of Otago [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Friday, 20 July 2012 2:35 p.m.
To: [OIA #390 email]
Cc: University of Otago Registrar
Subject: Official Information Act request - Grade Breakdown by Course
Subject Code [Request: 120719-000121]

 

 

 

 Response
Dear Mr Wagener

Thank you for your enquiry which I have forwarded to the Office of the
Registrar: [1][University of Otago request email]

---------------------------------------------
University of Otago
Web: [2]www.otago.ac.nz
Ask Otago: [3]http://ask.otago.ac.nz
Facebook: [4]http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
Phone: +64 3 479 7000 or 0800 80 80 98
----------------------------------------------09
  19/07/2012 09.56 PM
Dear University of Otago,

I would like to request under the Official Information Act some
information relating to student grades by course subject code. I
woud like to request a statistical breakdown of the average grade
distribution by course subject code for the last three years. For
example: 7% of students got an A+ in POLS papers, 2% got an A+ in
LAWS, 5% got an A+ in PHIL, etc.

For courses which operate using a pass/fail grading mechanism, can
I please request a breakdown of this also, again by course subject
code.

If possible can this data please be sent in a machine readable
format, so ideally in a spreadsheet format, rather than inside a
PDF?

Although not required by the Official Information Act, I understand
it is often useful to know what the purpose of a request is. The
purpose of my request is to try to gain an understanding of how
"easy" or "hard" different subjects mark, as I have heard rumors
that different subjects are known to grade easier than other
subjects. I am also asking for the last three years so I can see
how this has changed over time.

Feel free to contact me if you want me to clarify my request.

Yours faithfully,

Samuel Wagener

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][OIA #390 email]

Is [6][email address] the wrong address for Official
Information Act requests to University of Otago? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[7]http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[9]Ask Otago.

[---001:001950:54616---]

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[University of Otago request email]
2. http://www.otago.ac.nz/
3. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/
4. http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
5. mailto:[OIA #390 email]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact
8. http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
9. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/

Dear Mr  Wagener

 

Further to our email of 8 August, we have now had the opportunity to
identify any reports we have that could provide you with meaningful data
in response to your request under the Official Information Act for
information relating to student grades by course subject code. 

 

The University provides data to the Tertiary Education Commission and the
Ministry of Education which make information publicly available on their
websites.  

 

In the University of Otago’s Annual Report, we publish a table entitled
Examination Pass Rates -
 [1]http://www.otago.ac.nz/about/otago032055... We have been able to
break this down to a greater level of detail into pass rates by subject
for the three years 2009 – 2011.  This report is attached for you.

 

We must emphasize that this data does not take into account the nature of
student cohorts in the various subject areas, variations in course
content, variations in the nature of course delivery, differences between
professional programmes and general areas of study, and a range of other
variables all affecting pass rates. 

 

However, bearing all these limitations in mind, we trust that it is of
interest to you.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Jan A Flood

Registrar

 

 

From: University of Otago Registrar
Sent: Wednesday, 8 August 2012 4:11 p.m.
To: '[OIA #390 email]'
Subject: RE: Official Information Act request - Grade Breakdown by Course
Subject Code [Request: 120719-000121]

 

Dear Mr Wagener

 

I refer to your request under the Official Information Act for information
relating to student grades by course subject code.  At this point we are
able to advise that the statistical data in the particular format you
describe is not readily available.  However the Director of Academic
Services, who has been absent overseas, has now returned and I will
discuss your request with him in an effort to establish what reports we
might have that could provide you with meaningful data.

 

I will contact you again as soon as I have that information.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Jan A Flood

Registrar

 

 

From: University of Otago [2][mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Friday, 20 July 2012 2:35 p.m.
To: [3][OIA #390 email]
Cc: University of Otago Registrar
Subject: Official Information Act request - Grade Breakdown by Course
Subject Code [Request: 120719-000121]

 

 

 

 Response
Dear Mr Wagener

Thank you for your enquiry which I have forwarded to the Office of the
Registrar: [4][University of Otago request email]

---------------------------------------------
University of Otago
Web: [5]www.otago.ac.nz
Ask Otago: [6]http://ask.otago.ac.nz
Facebook: [7]http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
Phone: +64 3 479 7000 or 0800 80 80 98
----------------------------------------------09
  19/07/2012 09.56 PM
Dear University of Otago,

I would like to request under the Official Information Act some
information relating to student grades by course subject code. I
woud like to request a statistical breakdown of the average grade
distribution by course subject code for the last three years. For
example: 7% of students got an A+ in POLS papers, 2% got an A+ in
LAWS, 5% got an A+ in PHIL, etc.

For courses which operate using a pass/fail grading mechanism, can
I please request a breakdown of this also, again by course subject
code.

If possible can this data please be sent in a machine readable
format, so ideally in a spreadsheet format, rather than inside a
PDF?

Although not required by the Official Information Act, I understand
it is often useful to know what the purpose of a request is. The
purpose of my request is to try to gain an understanding of how
"easy" or "hard" different subjects mark, as I have heard rumors
that different subjects are known to grade easier than other
subjects. I am also asking for the last three years so I can see
how this has changed over time.

Feel free to contact me if you want me to clarify my request.

Yours faithfully,

Samuel Wagener

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[8][OIA #390 email]

Is [9][email address] the wrong address for Official
Information Act requests to University of Otago? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[10]http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be
published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[11]http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an OIA officer, please ask your
web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

[12]Ask Otago.

[---001:001950:54616---]

References

Visible links
1. http://www.otago.ac.nz/about/otago032055...
2. mailto:[mailto:[email address]]
3. mailto:[OIA #390 email]
4. mailto:[University of Otago request email]
5. http://www.otago.ac.nz/
6. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/
7. http://www.facebook.com/otagouniversity
8. mailto:[OIA #390 email]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. http://fyi.org.nz/help/contact
11. http://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
12. http://ask.otago.ac.nz/